Teachers in urban schools have a different set of challenges than teachers in other districts. In addition to the typical challenges seen when teaching teenagers, teachers in urban districts have to deal with students who don't speak English, students who don't always have access to basic human needs, and schools with very high drop-out rates. Urban schools need the very best teachers, and I am determined to be the best teacher I can be. I want to help my future students as much as I can to give them a positive outlook for their future. I expect the best from my students no matter what their ability level, and I will help my students to do their best by differentiating assignments for students based on their ability levels. I want all of my students to see that they can be successful in science, and to help them I will start the year by scaffolding information for them and once the students get stronger I will remove the scaffolding to show them how much they can accomplish on their own. I also want my students to never stop asking why, and I as their teacher will never stop asking my students "How do you know that?". I want them to learn how to create and defend their own arguments using facts from reliable sources. I will teach my students how to evaluate sources and determine whether or not they are reliable objective sources. My students will learn that defending an argument is not something that's only found in science; I will help them to learn skills that they will use in their everyday lives.
I also want my students to see how much fun science can be. Students learn and retain more information when they are doing activities and they don't necessarily realize they are learning. I will structure my lessons with 10-20 minutes of lecturing at a time broken up by small group discussions and/or activities relating to the lesson that day. Science is always changing, and I want my students to share in my enthusiasm for science. To help keep students up-to-date, I will have them read popular press or science journal articles a few times a month about new discoveries that are happening. I want my students to leave my classroom so excited about what they have learned that they can't wait to tell their friends all about it. By the end of the year, I want every student to be able to create and defend a sound argument and to be passionate about at least one of the topics we covered during the school year.
Revised Spring 2015:
I am not an easy teacher, and I don’t want to teach the class that everyone takes for an easy grade. I want to teach the class that everyone wants to take because they know they will be challenged, they will be respected, and they will have fun. I expect the best from my students no matter what their ability level, and I will help my students to do their best by differentiating assignments for students based on their ability levels. I want all of my students to see that they can be successful in science, and to help them I will start the year by scaffolding information for them and once the students get stronger I will remove the scaffolding to show them how much they can accomplish on their own. I also want my students to never stop asking why, and I as their teacher will never stop asking my students "How do you know that?". I want them to learn how to create and defend their own arguments using facts from reliable sources. I will teach my students how to evaluate sources and determine whether or not they are reliable objective sources. My students will learn that defending an argument is not something that's only found in science; I will help them to learn skills that they will use in their everyday lives.
Teachers in urban schools face a different set of challenges than other teachers do: we have to work with students who don’t speak English, students who might not be eating dinner that night, and students who drop out of high school at higher rates than other schools. We need to be there to support our students in all aspects of their lives and we need to be there to answer all of their questions. I want to be one of the teachers that students come to with questions about science and questions about life. I want to help my students as much as I can to give them a positive outlook for their future
I also want my students to see how much fun science can be. Students learn and retain more information when they are doing activities and they don't necessarily realize they are learning. I will structure my lessons with 10-20 minutes of lecturing at a time broken up by small group discussions and/or activities relating to the lesson that day. Science is always changing, and I want my students to share in my enthusiasm for science. To help keep students up-to-date, I will have them read popular press or science journal articles a few times a month about new discoveries that are happening. I want my students to leave my classroom so excited about what they have learned that they can't wait to tell their friends all about it. I want all of my students to realize that they are scientists regardless of whether or not they like my class, and I want them to come out at the end understanding how to question everything around them. By the end of the year, I want every student to be able to create and defend a sound argument and to be passionate about at least one of the topics we covered during the school year.
I also want my students to see how much fun science can be. Students learn and retain more information when they are doing activities and they don't necessarily realize they are learning. I will structure my lessons with 10-20 minutes of lecturing at a time broken up by small group discussions and/or activities relating to the lesson that day. Science is always changing, and I want my students to share in my enthusiasm for science. To help keep students up-to-date, I will have them read popular press or science journal articles a few times a month about new discoveries that are happening. I want my students to leave my classroom so excited about what they have learned that they can't wait to tell their friends all about it. By the end of the year, I want every student to be able to create and defend a sound argument and to be passionate about at least one of the topics we covered during the school year.
Revised Spring 2015:
I am not an easy teacher, and I don’t want to teach the class that everyone takes for an easy grade. I want to teach the class that everyone wants to take because they know they will be challenged, they will be respected, and they will have fun. I expect the best from my students no matter what their ability level, and I will help my students to do their best by differentiating assignments for students based on their ability levels. I want all of my students to see that they can be successful in science, and to help them I will start the year by scaffolding information for them and once the students get stronger I will remove the scaffolding to show them how much they can accomplish on their own. I also want my students to never stop asking why, and I as their teacher will never stop asking my students "How do you know that?". I want them to learn how to create and defend their own arguments using facts from reliable sources. I will teach my students how to evaluate sources and determine whether or not they are reliable objective sources. My students will learn that defending an argument is not something that's only found in science; I will help them to learn skills that they will use in their everyday lives.
Teachers in urban schools face a different set of challenges than other teachers do: we have to work with students who don’t speak English, students who might not be eating dinner that night, and students who drop out of high school at higher rates than other schools. We need to be there to support our students in all aspects of their lives and we need to be there to answer all of their questions. I want to be one of the teachers that students come to with questions about science and questions about life. I want to help my students as much as I can to give them a positive outlook for their future
I also want my students to see how much fun science can be. Students learn and retain more information when they are doing activities and they don't necessarily realize they are learning. I will structure my lessons with 10-20 minutes of lecturing at a time broken up by small group discussions and/or activities relating to the lesson that day. Science is always changing, and I want my students to share in my enthusiasm for science. To help keep students up-to-date, I will have them read popular press or science journal articles a few times a month about new discoveries that are happening. I want my students to leave my classroom so excited about what they have learned that they can't wait to tell their friends all about it. I want all of my students to realize that they are scientists regardless of whether or not they like my class, and I want them to come out at the end understanding how to question everything around them. By the end of the year, I want every student to be able to create and defend a sound argument and to be passionate about at least one of the topics we covered during the school year.